Associations between Socioeconomic Status and Adverse Childhood Experiences with Multidimensional Healthy Aging: Findings from the ELSI-Brazil

Background By 2050, the global population aged 65 years and older is projected to double, reaching 1.5 billion, with the most rapid growth occurring in Latin America and the Caribbean. In Brazil, this demographic shift is advancing quickly within a context marked by profound social inequalities and insufficient preparation to address the challenges of an aging society. For this reason, this study aimed to estimate the prevalence of healthy aging in a representative sample of the Brazilian population and explore the role of socioeconomic conditions and adverse childhood experiences. Methods We analyzed data from 9,908 participants aged 50 and older from the 2019–2021 follow-up of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI-Brazil). Participants were classified into healthy and less healthy aging based on the World Health Organization’s multidimensional definition of healthy aging. Logistic regression models were employed to identify sociodemographic and early-life predictors of healthy aging. Results Only 19.69% of the sample met the employed criteria for healthy aging. Women, older individuals, those self-identifying as mixed race (compared to those self-identifying as White), participants with no schooling or fewer than four years of education, and widowed individuals were more likely to not meet the criteria for healthy aging than their counterparts. Logistic regressions revealed that men are more likely to show healthy aging, as well as younger respondents, those with five years or more of education, and participants receiving two or more minimum wages. With respect to childhood experiences, those reporting poor health and who reported famine during childhood were less likely to meet the criteria for healthy aging. Conclusions The findings suggest that not only socioeconomic factors but also childhood experiences contribute to disparities in healthy aging in Brazil. These results underscore the importance of implementing early-life health and nutrition programs, advancing gender equity, and improving access to education and economic resources throughout the life course to support healthier aging for future generations. Clinical trial number: not applicable